Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 20^th January 2023, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee considered a Report relating to Replacement Day Care Service which had followed a series of visits by Members to day care services to gain a better understanding on how these were working and key issues affecting services from a frontline perspective.  The Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee had RESOLVED (a) that Cabinet receive and consider the Report, and as Adult Social Care transformation takes place, ensure that opportunities in the community are maximised to support people’s independence and enable them to do the things that matter to them; and (b) that the learning from the visits be shared to inform the Committees future work programme.

Recommendation

(a) that the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its continued work in this area and its constructive challenge and contribution.

(b) that the recommendations within the report be accepted that support the Council to deliver its promoting independence approach, including to ensure where services are provided they are the right services, delivered in the right way by the right people and enable the best outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

RESOLVED

(a) that the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its continued work in this area and its constructive challenge and contribution; and

(b) that the recommendations within the Report be accepted that support the Council to deliver its promoting independence approach, including to ensure where services are provided, they are the right services, delivered in the right way by the right people and enable the best outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

(Councillors Brazil, Dewhirst and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet noted that at its meeting on 20^th January 2023, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee had considered a Report relating to Day Care Services which had followed a series of visits by Members to day care services to gain a better understanding on how these were working and key issues affecting services from a frontline perspective.  The Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee had RESOLVED (a) that Cabinet receive and consider the Report, and as Adult Social Care transformation takes place, ensure that opportunities in the community are maximised to support people’s independence and enable them to do the things that matter to them; and (b) that the learning from the visits be shared to inform the Committees future work programme.

The Head of Integrated Adult Care Operations clarified the reference to independence and its meaning in this context, as referred to in the recommendation.

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its continued work in this area and its constructive challenge and contribution; and

(b) that the recommendations within the Report be accepted that support the Council to deliver its promoting independence approach, including to ensure where services are provided, they are the right services, delivered in the right way by the right people and enable the best outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

Report of the Members’ visit, attached

The Committee considered the Report which followed a series of visits by Members to day care services to gain a better understanding on how these were working and key issues affecting services from a frontline perspective.

An impact assessment had been undertaken in June 2022 on reviewing the potential cessation of providing buildings-based day services.  

Across the County the demand for DCC in-house, long-term buildings-based day services had reduced. This was the direction of travel for these services before the pandemic and the pandemic has accelerated these changes as people made and continued to make alternative choices in how they wanted to live their lives. In some circumstances the reduction in people attending was so low that it could be seen as further isolating individuals rather than providing a social experience for them. Work had been ongoing to develop individuals' skills and promote their independence, both with existing service users and as part of the preparation for adulthood work with younger people, which has also reduced the need for such buildings-based provision. This had been achieved on an individual basis by taking into account what was important to the individual and their families. Likewise, where there had been identified need for support to prevent carer breakdown in the form of replacement care, this had been sourced from across the wider market for adult social care as a long-term alternative solution. 

As part of the site visits to the day centres, Members had spoken with parents, carers and staff covering several issues including reducing demand, facilities on offer, utilisation of buildings, isolation of individuals and lack of activities.

The Report also covered the work of the Reaching for Independence Service, employment opportunities, infrastructure, supported living and smart technology and included case studies.

Members’ discussion points and comments with Officers included:

• Informative conversations had taken place with carers about the day centre provision available.
• Concern about the lack of people attending some of the settings
• Recognition of a distinction between the views of the parents of best care and what might be in the best interests of the adult receiving the service.
• It was essential to find the right solution for those adults whom the Reaching for Independence service was not appropriate.
• Supporting adults with disabilities to engage and take part in the community.
• Ensuring proposals met individual needs and demands and best value
• Enabling friendships to continue in the event of changes to provision.
• Praise was expressed for the care given by staff in day centres
• The need to provide bespoke facilities in the community and utilise buildings and expand the use of them. 

RESOLVED  

a)    that Cabinet receive and consider the Report, and as Adult Social Care transformation takes place, ensure that opportunities in the community are maximised to support people’s independence and enable them to do the things that matter to them; and

b)    that the learning from the visits be shared to inform the Committees future work programme.